Telogen Effluvium

The human scalp has around 100,000 to 150,000 hair strands. That's considered a lot so that people do not often notice they are shedding up to 100 to 150 hair strands a day. However, if you're going bald, you'll realize how important each strand is. Shedding hair is perfectly normal and part of three phases of normal hair growth cycle.

Phases Of Hair Growth Cycle

The anagen phase begins when hair cells are formed at the base of the hair follicles, after which, it grows for approximately two to six years. During this period, the hair may undergo several procedures such as blow drying, chemical treatments, hair dying, and many others.

After the anagen phase, hair growth enters a brief respite from growing called the catagen phase, which lasts between two to four weeks. There are no activities inside the hair follicles during this period and the hair is simply pushed upwards as it enters the third phase called the telogen phase (resting phase). During the third phase, new hair is produced at the base of the follicle while the old hair moves upward. This can last for 2-3 months, after which hair is shed.

Causes Of Telogen Effluvium

In some cases, hair is forced to enter the telogen phase as a result of some shock to the system, which can be caused by severe stress, trauma, high fevers, severe infections, severe psychological stress, severe chronic illness, major surgery, and other elements. Telogen effluvium could also result from eating disorders, medications, low protein diets, chronic iron deficiency, cancers, cancer treatments, scalp infections, chronic iron deficiency, systemic lupus erythematosis,

Studies have also shown a link between telogen effluvium and hypothyroidism due to hormonal changes. The first test doctors perform on patients who are experiencing hair loss is the thyroid function test because a problems in the thyroid also account for some cases of hair loss. Both thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) can result in hair shedding.

Other causes of hormonal changes such as pregnancy and childbirth (that both affect mother and child), as well as a discontinuation of medications containing estrogen, are also attributed to excessive hair shedding.

Telogen effluvium could be chronic or acute.

Chronic telogen effluvium last longer than six months, and is mainly reported among women and can occur at any age. Around 20% of post-partum women report hair shedding 2-3 months after childbirth while other reports note it's about 45%. The first symptom of telogen effluvium is excessive hair shedding of up to 70% of the hair on the scalp.

Acute telogen effluvium is the shedding of hair lasting six months or less. People who experience the acute type of the disorder typically complain of sudden hair loss in result to physiologic or metabolic stress occurring 1-6 months prior to the onset of hair shedding.

Treatments For Telogen Effluvium

In spite of the aforementioned reasons, telogen effluvium is classified as a temporary type of hair loss. In general, telogen effluvium recovery spontaneously follows within six months after the hair entered forcibly into the telogen phase.

There are many FDA-approved telogen effluvium remedies in form of medications such as Minoxidil while any type of hormonal problem should be addressed to stop telogen effluvium and new hair growth occurs. Likewise, doctors can correct any reversible cause of hair loss such as poor nutrition, iron deficiency, and medications.

Often, it is also comforting to let patients know that the condition is only temporary and that telogen effluvium recovery will happen soon. In the meantime, patients can be encouraged to style their hair in a manner that covers any evidence of loss of hair density.

The only way to treat telogen effluvium is to get to the root of the problem for a happier hair day ahead.